Entrepreneur Jared Isaacman has been voted in as the incoming leader of NASA, concluding an unusual nomination process where President Donald Trump put his name forward, withdrew it, and then renominated him.
The billionaire, an amateur jet pilot who became the first civilian to undertake a spacewalk, is also the first agency head in a generation to come directly from the private sector.
For numerous observers, the ultimate measure of his tenure will be judged on one key benchmark: its ability to return humans to the lunar surface ahead of China.
Trump has made clear a ambition for the US to establish a lasting moon outpost, both to allow for mining operations and to function as a stepping stone for travel to Mars.
On Wednesday, the U.S. Senate approved the nomination with a 67-30 vote.
The President initially pulled the nomination in May, referencing a "comprehensive examination of past connections".
At the point, the president was publicly feuding with tech billionaire Musk, one of his major contributors, with whom Isaacman has a working relationship.
The new administrator says he is now fully behind Trump's mission to harvest the moon, creating a divergence from Musk, who has argued that lunar missions is a distraction from the primary objective of reaching Mars.
In the ongoing space battle, countries are competing to exploit the moon's resources.
“Now is not the time for hesitation but a time for progress because if we lose ground, if we err, we may not recover, and the implications could alter the balance of power here on Earth,” Isaacman told US Senators earlier this month.
The billionaire entrepreneur sees fostering more industry players as essential for meeting those targets, according to a recently disclosed memo laying out his strategy for NASA.
In his Senate hearing, he supported the plan, which he crafted when he was first nominated, but said it was a work in progress.
His welcoming of rivalry could also create a conflict with SpaceX. Last week, Isaacman praised the issuance of a lucrative deal to Blue Origin, which is one of the primary competitors of Musk's SpaceX.
In the document, he recommended NASA should expand collaboration with research institutes, casting the agency as a "force multiplier for research".
He cited the upcoming deployment of the Roman Space Telescope as a prime illustration.
"Should we be close to something groundbreaking - like deploying the Roman Telescope - I will explore every option to make it happen, even providing personal financing if that's what it requires to deliver the scientific results," he stated.
According to analyses, his wealth is estimated at around 1.2 billion dollars, made mostly from his financial services firm and the sale of his company that provided flight training and operated a private fleet of military jets.
The top job at NASA will be his maiden role in public office, a departure from the last two people appointed as head of the agency.
He will replace the former transportation secretary, who has been the temporary leader since July.
Elara is a financial strategist with over a decade of experience in wealth management and entrepreneurship.
